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Black Magic Woman Trivia Quiz

This quiz is about the song "Black Magic Woman", made famous by Carlos Santana and his band in the early seventies.

A multiple-choice quiz by malama. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
malama

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
365,424

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
296

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 136 (10/10), Guest 185 (6/10), Guest 216 (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Although most people associate "Black Magic Woman" with Santana, their version is not the original. Who wrote the original version? Hint

Mick Fleetwood

Carlos Santana

Peter Green

Eric Clapton

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Question 2 of 10

2. Both Fleetwood Mac and Santana brought out a version of "Black Magic Woman", but they have more in common than this fact. Of the following, which is NOT true for both groups? Hint

Hardly any line-up changes

Founded in the late 60s

Inducted into the Rock'n Roll hall of fame on January 12, 1998

Top album sold over 20 million, total sales more than 60 million

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Question 3 of 10

3. Until 1969, Santana was a little known band from San Francisco. When they burst onto the music scene at Woodstock, was "Black Magic Woman" an instant crowd pleaser?

Yes

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which describes best the iconic cover of the album "Abraxas", in which Santana published their version of "Black Magic Woman"? Hint

A voodoo sorceress, pricking a male doll with pins

A night club scene, on the stage a girl clad in a banana skirt - reminiscent of Josephine Baker

All black, with white gothic letters

A black woman reclining, a white dove between her legs and a red angel, astride a conga

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Question 5 of 10

5. Let's look at the lyrics. What is the singer afraid the woman might do, while messing around with her tricks? Hint

Evoke a threefold caustic number six

Break off his magic stick

Invite trouble we can't fix

Spoil his brownie mix

6. The version of "Black Magic Woman" recorded by Fleetwood Mac/Peter Green is a conventional blues rock song set in 4/4 time. The Santana version gives the song a somewhat different rhythmic flavor. What dance could follow the rhythm? Hint

waltz

cha cha

tarantella

polka

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Question 7 of 10

7. In Santana's version we can hear vocals, keyboards, a drum kit, congas, timbales and more Latin percussion, and of course guitars. Of these, what do we NOT hear in the Fleetwood Mac/Peter Green version? Hint

guitar

drums

keyboard

vocals

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Question 8 of 10

8. Santana's style is generally a fusion of different genres and ethnic styles. On top of this, as recorded on "Abraxas" and as usually played live by the band, the Santana version of "Black Magic Woman" is a medley with a Jazz piece. Choose the correct one! Hint

"Wave" by Antonio Carlos Jobin

"Gypsy Queen" by Gabor Szabo

"Guijira" by Chick Corea

"Jambo" by Dizzie Gillespie

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Question 9 of 10

9. Both, Fleetwood Mac's and Santana's music was featured in the soundtrack of many movies. In what movie from 2003 does "Black Magic Woman" embellish a scene? Hint

Jerry Maguire

Love Actually

The Thomas Crown Affair

Anger Management

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Question 10 of 10

10. Carlos Santana and members of his original line-up were introduced to the Rock'n Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Which musician was introduced the same evening and together with Santana performed "Black Magic Woman"? Hint

Eric Clapton

Mick Fleetwood

Peter Green

Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty

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Most Recent Scores

Sep 21 2024 : Guest 136: 10/10
Sep 07 2024 : Guest 185: 6/10
Sep 06 2024 : Guest 216: 9/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Although most people associate "Black Magic Woman" with Santana, their version is not the original. Who wrote the original version?

Answer: Peter Green

Peter Green wrote the song even before he co-founded Fleetwood Mac. "Black Magic Woman" by Fleetwood Mac was released in 1968 and made it to number 37 in the UK singles charts. Santana released "Black Magic Woman" first on "Abraxas", which became a number one album in the US and as of 2013 went platinum five times.

2. Both Fleetwood Mac and Santana brought out a version of "Black Magic Woman", but they have more in common than this fact. Of the following, which is NOT true for both groups?

Answer: Hardly any line-up changes

Although their music style differs considerably, Fleetwood Mac and Santana have quite a bit in common. Both have Flower Power stamped over their beginnings, both had frequent and major line-up changes, both are in the same super group league and both tour in 2014.

3. Until 1969, Santana was a little known band from San Francisco. When they burst onto the music scene at Woodstock, was "Black Magic Woman" an instant crowd pleaser?

Answer: No

Santana didn't adopt "Black Magic Woman" until they released the album "Abraxas" in September 1970, the year after Woodstock. The setlist at Woodstock contained "Waiting", "Evil Ways", "You just don't care", "Savor", "Jingo", "Persuasion" and "Soul Sacrifice". The instrumental piece "Soul Sacrifice" is considered one of the highlights of Woodstock.

4. Which describes best the iconic cover of the album "Abraxas", in which Santana published their version of "Black Magic Woman"?

Answer: A black woman reclining, a white dove between her legs and a red angel, astride a conga

It shows the picture of a black woman and a red angel. The picture was done by Abdul Mati Klarwein, whose paintings resonate the psychedelic vibes of the time. Speaking about the picture, Santana quotes a passage from Herman Hesse's "Demian": "We stood before it and began to freeze inside from the exertion. We questioned the painting, berated it, made love to it, prayed to it: We called it mother, called it whore and slut, called it our beloved, called it Abraxas."

5. Let's look at the lyrics. What is the singer afraid the woman might do, while messing around with her tricks?

Answer: Break off his magic stick

Break off his magic stick - at least in the original version. Later versions usually speak of waking up or picking up the magic stick. There is a consensus that the black magic woman the lyrics speak of is a voodoo sorceress. Santana's version embroiders on the topic with musical tools.

Answer: cha cha

While you could hang the label of cha cha, rumba, son clave or salsa on Santana's polyrhythmic "Black Magic Woman", it still is set in 4/4 time. The other dances follow 3/4 (waltz), 6/8 (tarantella), and 2/4 (polka) rhythms.

Answer: keyboard

The different styles are quite clearly reflected in the choice of instruments. Fleetwood Mac/Peter Green play it almost puristic while Santana let it scintillate.

Answer: "Gypsy Queen" by Gabor Szabo

Gabor Szabo was a Hungarian musician and guitarist, who fled from Hungary after the quashed Hungarian Uprising in 1956. In the US, by the mid 60ies, he had become known to insiders as a "moderately avant-garde" jazz guitarist, who incorporated Hungarian folk and rock music elements into his compositions.

9. Both, Fleetwood Mac's and Santana's music was featured in the soundtrack of many movies. In what movie from 2003 does "Black Magic Woman" embellish a scene?

Answer: Anger Management

"Black Magic Woman" written by Peter Green and played by Santana appears in the soundtrack of the 2003 movie "Anger Management": "Go, get 'em Mr. Johnson!"

Answer: Peter Green

By the time Santana released their version of "Black Magic Woman" on "Abraxas", Peter Green, who had written the song, had already left Fleetwood Mac. He had more and more disliked the commercial side of making music and had drifted into heavy use of LSD, which left a permanent mark on his psyche.

In the mid 1970s he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and hospitalized. During this time the royalties from Black Magic Woman were a steady income for him. During the 1980s Peter Green slowly returned to the music scene.

Source: Author malama

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